Veneer trimmer



April 8, 1930. T. ROBINSON 1,753.967

I VENEER TRIMMER Filed Nov. 24. 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR homasRobinson ATTOR Y5 April 1930. T. ROBINSON 1,753,967

\ VENEER TRIMMER I Filed Nov. 24, 1925 4 5119615611881 2 lNVENTOR ThomasRobinson TTORNEYS T. ROBINSON April 8, 1930.

VENEER TRIMMER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 24, 1925 INVENTOR ATT RNEYSApril 3 T. ROBINSON R 1,753,967

' VENEER TRIMMER Fi 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4MP] v O8 Thomas Robinsonatbouuur Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TJHEOMASROBINSON, F EVERETT, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO THECOE MANUFAC- TUBINGCOMPANY, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO VENEER TRIMMERApplication filed November 24, 1925. Serial No. 71,092.

My invention relates to cutters or jointers adapted for the cutting of aweb or sheet into shorter lengths and particularly when it may bedesired to vary the length (or width) of the individual pieces in aflexible manner and order.

My invention has been designed more particularly for use in cutting upveneer sheets and webs, but is obviously well adapted for cutting upother analogous web or sheet-like products or materials.

One special quality had in view in designing my invention is the abilityto control the width of cutting so as to quickly and efi'ectively varythe width of the sections successively out within the limitations of themachine, that is, wide and narrow sections may follow in any orderdesired or necessary to.

suit the widths desired, or those necessary in order to removeimperfections and utilize the product most advantageously.

Another object sought is a device operable with as little waste of timeas possible, and one in which the forward feeding movement of the webbeing jointed is continuous.

Other objects may be discerned by a study of the following specificationand claims.

What is believed to be new and novel in the device shown in theaccompanying drawings and hereinafter described, will be particularlypointed out in the claims terminating this specification.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the principles of myinvention in a construction which is now approved by me. It is, however,to be understood that my invention is not limited to the exactconstruction shown, and that equivalent forms of construction may besubstituted in many places without departing from the true scope ofmyplane of the cutter and anvil'rolls, without however sectioning saidrolls;

Figure 4 shows a side view of a section of the automatic tripping orcontrolling chain and the complemental tripping parts;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the settingmechanism in its relation to the controlling chain.

Figure 6 is a. wiring diagram employed in connection with said settingmechanism;

Figure 7 is a transverse section through the cutting and anvil rolls,taken on line 77 of Fig. 2 along the plane of one set of feed chains,showing said chains and their relation to said rolls;

Figure 8 is aysectional elevationof the adjustable member which carriesthe scale taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Figure 9 is a transverse section of the ratchet mechanism employed inconnection with the turning of the cutting roll taken on line 99 of Fig.2.

The jointing members of my device consist of the rollers 1 and 2,mounted adjacent and superimposed to eachother on parallel axes, andbetween which the veneer web is passed, the web traveling horizontallyin the machine as shown.

One of'these rollers, as 1, has a number of steel blades or cutterknives 10, extending lengthwise thereof, circumferentially and equallyspaced thereon to conform to the width of the narrowest strip it may bedesired to cut from the web. The spacing chosen in the machineillustrated is two inches. The widths of thesectionscut from a web orsheet are a function of the unit distance represented by the spacing ofthese It is evident that if the sheet to be cut is fed between the tworolls 1 and 2, and these rolls be brought together at intervals, thesheet will be cut into strips or sheets of a width corresponding withthe intervals elapsing between the approach movements of the rolls.

Either or both rolls may be reciprocated,

ut I prefer to reciprocate the lower roll 2.

is movement 'is shown as secured for the roll 2 by the followingmechanism: Upon each end of the shaft of roller.2 is loosely journaled aroller 31. Keyed or otherwise rigidly fixed to shaft are two lift blocksor cams 3. The upper surface of these blocks consists of two circularsegmental faces 33, curved to conform with and fit the periphery of therollers 31. This produces a peak or point 32 where the two curvedsurfaces join or meet.

It is evident that if any source of power is connected with the arm 34so as to rock the shaft 30 alternately in opposite directions, theroller 2 will be lifted by the peak or point 32, soas to bring it intocontact with the cutting blades carried by the roller 1, thereby cuttingacross any sheet which is between the rollers.

The mechanism by which this lifting of the roller 2 is secured may bewidely varied, as well as the means for actuating such mechanism. It isdesired to employ an electrically energized means to secure thismovement.

The type of electricalmotor which it is believed will best fit theconditions, is the solenoid. I have therefore shown two solenoid coils37 and 38, which have a common core 36, the core being connected by abar or rod 35 with an arm 34 securely fixed upon the shaft 30. The coils37 and 38 are separately and alternately energized to thereby secure theopposite alternating movement for the core. I have shown the solenoidcoils as mounted upon a pivot axis 39 to compensate for the slightangular movement of the rod 35.

It is evident that other types of prime movers may be employed. Onehighly desirable feature is a direct connection and a mechanism whichwill act with promptness and accuracy of timing. One feature which it isdesired to avoid is dependence upon any clutch, whether of positive orfrictional character.

The rolls may be turned and the web feeding device operated from anysuitable source of power. I have shown an electric motor 4 turning afriction disk 40, the latter cooperating with and turning a frictiondisk 41 slidably mounted upon a shaft 42. A collared or grooved hub 43permits engagement with disk 41 to shift it along its shaft, therebyvarying the rate of feed and operation of the device. This feature ofvariation of feeding rate may often be unnecessary, in which case it maybe omitted.

The shaft 42, or an equivalent driving shaft, is suitably connected withthe rolls to drive them and also with the web feeding means, of whichthe preferred arrangement is shown in Figures 2 and 7. Separate chainsare preferably employed at opposite sides of the roll 2, and the roll 2is provided with circumferential slots or grooves 20, which receive theguide pulleys 51 at one end of the conveyor chains 5. By using separateconveyor chains at opposite sides of the roll 2 and not carrying saidchains over roll 2, the possibility of displacement of the chain so asto get it under the knives, is prevented.

In the construction illustrated, a chain 45 connects a sprocket 44 onthe shaft 42 with a sprocket 57 on an idler shaft 52. Shaft 52 has asprocket 56, over which passes a drive chain 55, which passes insuccession over sprocket 54 on shaft 53, sprocket 11 on shaft 12 of thecutter roll, over sprocket 51 on shaft 50 and thence back to sprocket 56on shaft 52.

The lower or anvil roll 2 is driven by a belt 27 passing over pulley 26.The driving ratio between the two rolls 1 and 2 is preferably such thatthe roll carrying the knives has a slightly greater circumferentialspeed than the other, while at the same time providing a yieldingconstruction in the drive for the roll 2, which will secure a momentaryuniformity of-movement at the time of cutting. This may be done byproviding one of the pulleys, over which the belt 27 passes, with aratchet or clutch drive. I have shown in Figure 9 such a deviceincorporated in the pulley 58. The rim 58 is loosely mounted on a center58 secured upon the shaft. Recesses 58 having inclined or cam innerfaces, contain rollers or balls 58, the whole forming a roller clutch ofcommon construction. It is, therefore, possible for the roll 2 to beslightly accelerated at the time of cutting, this being communicated toit from the cutting or knife carrying roll 1.

The desirability for a circumferential speed in the knife carryingroller 1, greater than the rate of feed of the web being cut, arisesfrom the fact that the cutting blades have a material thickness and arerather close together. Under conditions where two successive blades werecutting, if the two speeds were equal, the narrow strip cut off mightstick between the knives and be carried around, which would interferethe next time either of the holding blades was used.

The jointing mechanism controlling or trip chain 6 is shown in top Viewin its relation to other parts of the machine in Figure 2, and in detailin Figures 4 and 5. The rate of movement of this chain conforms in adefinite way with that of the feed chains 5. By this it is not meantthat they have necessarily exactly the same rate of movement, but thatany. variation existing preserves a constant ratio."

For cutting a product such as wood veneer, which will shrink on dryingand which at the time of cutting contains such an amount of moisturethat shrinkage will occur, either the rate of movement of the veneerfeed chains should exceed that of the trip chain enough to compensatefor such shrinkage, or the unit of measurement of the feed chain khouldexceed that used in the timing or trip chain, in just the same way thatthe measurement unit in a shrink rule exceeds that of an ordinary rule.

The unit basis of length employed in the trip chain may be anythingrequired in the service in which it is to be employed. For jointingveneer, a suitable unit of length for most work would be two inches. Inthe machine illustrated, I have employed this unit. This unit wouldusually be two inches plus a shrinkage allowance.

While the timing mechanism by which the trip action is controlled is aseparate invention from the cutting or trimming mechanism hereinclaimed, there is such a relationship between them that an explanationthereof will facilitate a full understanding of the apparatus as awhole. Such timing mechanism is shown and claimed in an application forpatent filed as a division from this case June 21, 1926, Serial No.117,367.

The type of link illustrated for the trip chain has two laterallyprojecting pins 61, which may be extensions of the link pivots of thechain. On the unit basis 'of two inches, these would be spaced one inchapart. Upon one pin of each pair is pivotally mounted a trip orcontactdog 7. This has a central body from which extend three arms orfingers 70, 71 and 72, the fingers 71 and 72 being positioned in planesseparated lengthwise of the pivot axis. The other pin 61 of the pairserves as a limit stop, successively engaged by the fingers 70 and 71.

The upper run of the trip chain rests upon guide and positioning bars 62and 63. The pins 61, upon which the trip dogs 7 are pivoted, also carryrollers 64 which engage'the guide bar 63. At a point where the chainfirst enters the upper run, any trip dogs which have their fingers 70projecting, or as shown by one of these in Figure 4, engages a fixedmember, not shown, so as to turn them 55 all into the position in whichthe others are shown in Figure 4, which position may be called thenormal position, the position in which the single dog is shown being thetrip position.

At a point along the path of the trip chain, preferably close to thejointer rolls, is an electrical contact or switch controlling a circuitwhich is employed as a relay operating circuit for the jointingmechanism. The power member of this device, as shown, is

the solenoid 37, 38. Figure 4 is a sideview of the closing deviceforthis relay circuit,'and the chain elements by which it is controlled.

A lever 8, pivoted at 80, carries an insulating contact block 82 whichis normally held down, or in position to hold separated the contactmembers 84 and 85, either by the 'weight of the parts or by the actionof a spring, as 81, or by both. One contact meinber is preferablyprovided with a resilient left in Figure 4, as indicated by the arrow atthe bottom, the arm 72 of any trip block which has previously beenplaced in tripping position, will engage the insulating block 82 toclose the break in the circuit at the points 84, 85, thereby energizingthose magnets 35 of the setting system, see Figures 5 and 6, which havebeen connected to this circuit by the depression of their keys 15. Thesetting mechanism or system, to which brief refer ence has just beenmade, will be more fully described hereinafter.

The contact making or circuit closing .device illustrated in Figures .4and 6, or an equivalent mechanism, is duplicated as a means for.controlling the current to the cutter operating solenoid, 37, 38. Inthis case the block 82 which is engaged by the trip finger 72 of thetrip chain, is "preferably placed as close as is feasible to the planeextending through the axes of rollers 1 and 2. Also it is desirable thatthe circuit directly controlled by such contacts, be that of a relaymagnet by which is controlled the power circuit or whatever other sourceof power is used,'thereby moving the anvil roll 2 sharply upward intocontact with the sheet V .to force it against one of the cutting knives10 carried by the roll 1. These parts are so positioned and timed as toact only at the times when the knives 10 reach the cutting position.

To secure the automatic actuation of the cutting mechanism, it is onlynecessary to raisein advance that trip dog 72 which is spaced thedesired distance following the last previously raised dog. It ispossible to have a number of the trip dogs or fingers raised in advance,which will cause each in turn to actuate the cutting mechanism to cutstrips corresponding in width with the spacing of the fingers which areraised.

The width of pieces cut from the veneer sheet are represented by thespacing of those trip dogs 7 which are turned into tripping position. Tofacilitate the tripping of the dogs needed to secure the desired width,I

mount a scale 100 alongside of the course of the trip chain. This isplainly marked in inches, or whatever unit is desired. It is secured atone end, to the same plate 87, or other part which carries the contactclosing block 82. This plate 87 may be adjusted toward or from thecutting rolls as desired, and for making this adjustment I have shownplate 87 secured to bar 101, whichis mounted to slide upon two rods 102and 103. Rod 103 has notches 106 spaced at unit distances apart, and bar101 has a slot 104 permitting raising of the handle and 105 of the barso that the bar may be lifted out of notch 106, and the whole deviceslid along to another notch 106. This adjustment may be omittedentirely, and if used it would be merely as an adjustment which wouldchange the zero of the scale in its relation to the cutters.

It is, of course, possible to turn the trip dogs into tripping positionby direct hand engagement therewith. It will, however, be desirable tobe able to employ the setting mechanism, to which I have alreadyreferred, to do this by the use of a device which is analogous to akeyboard. Such a device is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. A series of likedevices, of which one is shown in side elevation in Figure 5, are spacedapart the chosen unit distance in a bank extending alongside of thescale and the controlling or timing chain 6. In Figure 2 three are shownin plan view. Enough should be employed to cover a material distance,say six feet or even more.

Each of these devices consists of the following parts. A lever 13 ispivoted at 14 and has one end 16 positioned adjacent to the fingers 71of the trip dogs as they pass, and so that if this end be swung downupon its pivot, this end 16 will be brought into the path of travel ofthe finger 71 to rock the trip member or dog 7, so as to raise thefinger 72 into position to later engage the block 82 and close thecontact members 84 and 85. The other end of lever 13 may be providedwith a finger plate or key 15.

Secured to lever 13 is a rod 17 which is secured to or forms a part ofthe core 36' of a solenoid coil 35'. An extension of the rod 17 has across pin or a lateral extension 18, or is otherwise constructed andpositioned to engage with two toggle levers 9 and 90, pivotedrespectively at 9 and 9, the latter pivot being common with thatconnecting two parts 91 and 92 of a compound arm, itself pivoted at 99.The upper end of this compound arm carries the movable contact member 94of a switch device. Said contact member is shown as in the form of aconducting ring 94 mounted upon an insulating head 93.

When the toggle lever bars 9 and 90 are moved down by depressing key 15,the ring 94 will be caused to contact with each of a pair of arms 95(see Fig. 6), so as to close the break normally existing at this pointin their common circuit. The lower end of the solenoid core 36' contactswith an end of link 9 so that depression of lever 13 depresses links orlevers 9 and 90. A spring 96 normally holds these parts in thenon-working position shown in Figure 5. This spring connects with anextension of the part 91 of the compound arm which carries the contactmember of the switch. A stop flange 98 limits their relative movement inone direction. The compound construction of the arm 91, 92 compensatesfor possible variations in proportions and position of the parts of thedevice.

Each bar of the pairs 95 is connected with its respective side of acircuit which includes the contact members 84 and 85, which are broughttogether by the action of the trip dog 72 of the timing chain 6. In thesame, or in another circuit closed by the same movement of the points84, 85, is the coil 105 of a relay magnet by which the power circuit106' of the solenoid 37, 38 is energized to thereby operate the jointingmechanism.

When the second break in the circuit is closed by the movement of thebar 8, all the solenoids 35 connected with the keys which have beendepressed, will be energized, thereby pulling up the cores 36, whichdepresses the ends 16 of their levers 13 to thereby engage the arms 71of the trip dogs and turn up the trip arms 72, so that as they reach themember 82 the jointing solenoid will be energized and the roll 2 beraised. A spring or the excess weight of the key end of arm 13 returnsit to the position shown in Figure 5, in which end 16 clears arm 71. Asthe core 36 is raised, the pin 18 breaks the toggle joint formed by thelinks 9 and 90 and throws the head 94 forward away from bars 95, thusbreaking the local circuit at this point.

A number of the key levers 13 may be pressed down at once, but noneshould later be pressed down until all but one of the trip dogspreviously set have been in act-ion. All levers which are down at onetime are released together, thus simultaneously turning up a like numberof trip dogs.

As the key or setting levers 13 are spaced unit distances apart, theoperator may determine the width of the strip to be cut by the spacingof the levers depressed, or by the distance between the lever depressedand the tripping point represented by the block 82.

The operation of the device of my invention may be briefly summarized asfollows: a web or sheet of veneer is fed between the rolls.1 and 2 to becut into desired widths when these rolls are intermittently broughttogether. The widths to be cut from the sheet are determined byan'operator who presses certain of the keys 15, arranged opposite thegraduations on the scale 100. The width which is cut corresponds withthe distance between the levers depressed, or the distance between thelever depressed and the tripping point represented by the block 82. Asone of the selected keys 15 is depressed the toggle links 9 and 90 forthat particular key cause the member 94 to contact with arms 95 andelectrically connect the solenoid 35, for that key, in series with thecontact points 84 and 85. Any number of keys 15 may be depressedaccording to the various widths desired to be cut in succession, and aseach key is depressed the solenoid35 for that key is electricallyconnected in series with the contact points 84 and 85. When the contactpoints 84 and 85 are closed the solenoids 35, of the keys which havebeen depressed, are energized, causing the ends 16 of their key levers13, to be suddenly moved toward the trip chain 6 to engage the arms 71of the trip dogs 7, and thereby trip the dogs so as to turn up the triparms 72 which will engage the block 82 in succession as the dogs movealong.

As each trip arm' 72 that has been turned up engages the block 82, thecontact points 84 and 85 are closed to energize the solenoid 37, 38,which actuates the jointing mechanism, and also to energize thesolenoids 35' of the keys which have been depressed. After the trip dogshave been turned up by the key levers these levers are returned to theirnormal position by the weight of the parts attached to the levers.

By the use of such a keyboard and its setting mechanisms, the device maybe set in advance fora number of Widths. It is also possible to be moreexact and certain about the setting of the trip devices. Should a wrongkey be depressed, time is available for correction.

By the use of a continuous feed for the veneer web, a much greater rateof cutting is obtainable than is possible where the veneer feed must bestopped before cutting.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clearlyunderstood upon reading 7 the foregoing description.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a veneer j ointer, a continuously operating feed mechanism, anintermittently operable jointing mechanism, an electrically operatedjointing mechanism control, and a timing mechanism operating in unisonof rate with the feed mechanism .and having jointing mechanism controloperating members optionally movable into working position and spaced atunit intervals.

2. In a veneer jointer, two rotating rolls between which the veneer isfed, the mounting of said rolls being adapted to permit relative lateralmovement between them and one roll having a series of cutting bladesspaced at intervals, actuating means associated with the mountingof oneof said rolls for intermittently bringing said rolls to-- gether to cutthe veneer, and means for seapart to permit passage of the veneerbetween them without cutting, means for bringing said rolls together tocut the veneer, and means for turning the cutting roll at a rateslightly greater than the rate of feed of the veneer.

4. In a veneer jointer, a cutting roll having a series of cutting bladesspaced at unit intervals, an anvil roll cooperating with the cuttingroll, said rolls being normally spaced apart to permit passage of theveneer between them without cutting, means for bringing said rollstogether to cut the veneer, means for turning the cutting roll at a rateslightly greater than the rate of feed of the veneer, and means forturning the anvil roll containing a member yieldable to permit the rollto exceed its normal rate under outside infiuences.

5. In a veneer jointer, a sheet feeding means, jointing means operableintermittently and selectively, a trip chain having a series of tripmembers movable into and out of functioning position, means actuated bysaid trip members to electrically control the operation of said jointingmeans, a setting mechanism having a series of fingers selectivelycontrolled to set the chosen trip members, and means for electricallyactuating said setting fingers, said last mentioned means beingcontrolled by the actuation of the control for said jointing means.

6. A jointer comprising sheet feeding means, a jointing cutter and ananvil'member cooperating therewith and relatively movable towards andfrom each other, a solenoid connected to operate the anvil, a switchcontrolling the application of current to the solenoid, a chain movablein unison with the sheet and a series of switch controlling memberscarried by said chain and movable selectively into and out ofoperatingposition.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a continuously operatedsheet feed, a jointing mechanism, a separate source of power forintermittent operation of the j ointing mechanism, a selective controlfor the said jointer operatingmechanism comprising a fixed member andmembers movable in synchronism with the sheet feed, and means forselectively placing said last named members in operating position toengage said fixed member. I

8. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the webcontinuously, means for jointing the web, means for controlling theoperation of the jointing means including a normally opened electricalswitch, and means of adapted to close said switch whereby the web isjointed at any desired length.

9. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the webcontinuously, means for jointing the web, means for electrically c011-trolling the operation of the jointing means including a normally openedswitch and selectively operated members moving in timed relation withsaid web adapted to cooperate therewith to close said switch whereby theweb may be jointed into predetermined lengths corresponding to thedistance between the selected operable members.

10. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the webcontinuously, means for jointing the web, means for electricallycontrolling the Operation of the jointing means including a normallyopened switch, means traveling in unison with the web and adapted tocooperate with said switch to close the same, and means for selectivelycooperating with said last mentioned means whereby said traveling meanswill cause said switch to be moved to closed position successively tojoint the web at intervals dependent upon the actuation of saidselective means.

11. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the webcontinuously, means for jointing the web, means for electricallycontrolling the operation of the jointing means comprising a normallyopened switch, means traveling in unison with the web and having memberstraveling in the path of said switch, and means for selectivelyactuating said members to thereby cause engagement between the selectedmember and said switch to close the latter. t

12. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the webcontinuously, means for jointing the web, means for electricallycontrolling the operation of the jointing means comprising a normallyopened switch, means traveling in unison with the web and having memberstraveling in'the path of said switch and adapted to be moved intoengaging position or out of engaging position with said switch, andmeans for selectively moving said members into a position in which theywill engage the switch and move the same to closed position whereby theweb will be jointed in lengths substantially equivalent to the distancebetween the selected members.

13. In a veneer jointer, or the like, two rotating rolls between whichthe veneer is fed, one roll having a series of cutting blades, spaced atunit intervals and electrically controlled means operable at will tointermittently move one of said rolls bodily towards the other to cutthe veneer.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of meansfor feeding a sheet of material, means for continuously actuating saidfeeding means, a jointing mechanism, means for intermittently actuatingsaid jointing mechanism, and selectively controlled means synchronizedwith said feeding means for movement in unison with said sheet andadapted to control the intermittent actuation of said jointingmechanism.

15. In a veneer jointer, a trip chain traveling with the veneer sheetand having a series of trip members movable selectively into functioningposition, and a setting means extending alongside of the chain andhaving a series of setting mechanisms selectively 0 erable to set tr1pmembers carried by t e chain.

16. In a veneer j ointer, a trip chain traveling with the veneer sheetand having a series of trip members movable selectively into functioningposition, a setting means extending alongside of 'the chain and having aseries of setting mechanisms selectively operable to set trip memberscarried by the chain, and means for electrically operating said settingmechanisms, energized synchronously with the operation of the jointingmechanism.

17 In a jointer, a trip chain having trip members movable into and outof operating position, a series of trip setting devices comprising asetting finger, and an electric operating means therefor, means formanually setting said finger operating means, and means for energizingsaid finger operating means conjointly with the operation of thejointer.

18. A timing mechanism for jointers, comprising a chain having trip dogspivoted thereon to be turned between operative and inoperativepositions, and a switch having amember placed in the path of said tripdogs when said dogs are in operative position.

19. A timing mechanism for jointers comprising a chain movable inconformity with the material to be cut, a series of trip blocks pivotedupon said chain and each having a setting finger and a trip finger, acutter controlling switch having a member in the path of the tripfingers when set, and a setting member adapted to be operated toselectively engage the setting fingers.

Signed at Everett, Snohomish County,

I/Vashington, this 17th day of November, 1

1925. THOS. ROBINSON.

